By ANNE BESTON
Hundreds of beehives would have to be destroyed to rid the country of the Varroa mite, but that is what the National Beekeepers Association wants.
After a long meeting in Auckland yesterday, the association adopted eradication as its preferred option of three.
The other options are to declare an infestation zone and control movement of bees in and out of it, or to live with the mite.
The last option would restrict exports of bees to countries already infected. It could also have serious consequences for pollination of New Zealand's crops.
Association executive member Lin McKenzie said the mite could destroy half the country's hives if left to its own devices.
The cost of eradication is estimated at more than $1 million.
"We can't do it alone but our association's line is that we still want total eradication," said Mr McKenzie.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry hopes by Friday to have drawn up final boundaries around the infestation zone.
To date 10,022 hives on 655 apiaries have been inspected for the mite and 38 apiary sites owned by 26 beekeepers have tested positive.
Late last week, infected hives were found north of Auckland in Orewa and Kumeu.
Apiarists favour hive destruction
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.